Musical instrument



Jan. 11, 1949. N. J. ADAIR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 19, 1947 F'IE.1

I N V EN TOR:

TTOR/VE)5 6 NEWTON J. ADA/R PIE. 2

FIG. 3

N. J. AD AlR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Jan. 11, 1949.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 19, 1947 FIG. 4

0 5 w H U 2 4 3 W 4 U /o 5 /0 b /u 7 /D 5 I 2 w 0 Z Z 3 5 E E E F El IN V EN TOR.

NEWTON J. ADA/R Ma /w ATTORNfVS Jan. 11, 1949. J ADAjR 2,459,103

' MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Aug. 19, 1947 JSheets-Sheet 3 45 r 43 INVENTOR.

NEWTo/v J. A DA/R BY MMXM/ A rra/we'rs Patented Jan. 11, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Newton J. Adair, Fresno, Calif;

Application August 19, 1947; Serial No. 769,374

7 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to an improvement in mechanisms for progressively tuning stringed instruments, of the type described in my U. S. patent application filed Jan. 25, 1947, and awarded the Serial Number 724,386, whereby greater speed of performance is made possible, more uniform response to exercise control is achieved, simplicity of structure and manipu lation thereof is furthered, and other advantages attained.

Many stringed. instruments, such a steel guitars, were originally restricted in their musical expression by an inflexibility of basic tuning. At predetermined tuning, such instruments were limited to restricted forms of expression by an in ability to achieve many desired chords, chordal progressions and variations. Various devices have been produced for progressively varying the basic tunings of stringed musical instruments by altering the lengths of portions of the strings permitted to vibrate and-by modifying the tensions of the strings. Although the embodiments described in the present application and that of the patent application identified above are essentially steel guitars with which steels are conveniently employed the usual manner to vary the lengths of vibrating strings to control musical pitch, the inventions are principally concerned with means for modifying string tensions to achieve progressive and precision alterations of basic tunings. Similarities of the objectives of the present invention and the invention of the above identified patent application are apparent but the inventions are clearly distinguished by dissimilarities of the structures and by superior operation of the improved form herein described.

An object of my invention is to provide stringed instruments having increased breadth of musical expression.

Another object is to provide an improved,

stringed instrument having predeterminedbasic tuning that is adapted for progressive modification asthe instrument is played. v

Another object, is to accomplish substantially instantaneous and precise re tun ing of stringed instruments in response to manually manipulated electrical control means.

Another object is to provide controls means of" the character described, enabling frequent;

' rapid; and'a-ccurate modification of string ten- Anotherobjectyin steel guitars employing pedalmanipulated re-tuning means. is-tomi'nimizethe number of pedals requiredt-o achieve full musical means within the range of the instrument.

A further object-is to provide asirnplified instrument-of=the character and for the purposes set forth.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I'have provided im roved details ofstructure, the-preferred'form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1- is a perspective viewof an instrument of thepres'ent invention viewedfromthe'sid'e thereof from which the instrument'isplayed', usually referred to as theback;

Fig. 2 is'a plan view of the instrument shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to that of Fig. 2. but'with' housing portions of the instrument re= moved to reveal normally-enclosed portions.

Fig. Pisa sectional vleiv taken on line h-lof Fig. 3. I

Fig. 5 'is-a' section taken on lihe'5' 5of Fig. 3;

Fig. dis a bottom planview of the portion of the present invention shown in Fig. 4, as viewed from line 6-6.

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of re-tuning pedals of the present invention seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a schematic electrical diagram of the electrical circuits of the present invention.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings:

In Fig. l, a console cabinet of the present invention is indicated generally at Ill, having a floor H and a substantially rectangular and horizontally disposed table portion l2. The table portion is supported above the floor at a height convenient for playing the instrument by a shield 13 interconnecting the floor and table portions in spaced relation. The sustaining portion preferably houses operable portions of the invention and extends across the side of the instrument opposite the performer, the front, and over-laps both ends.. The console is constructed of wood, plastic, or other suitable material. Various types of consoles and other supports may be employed without departing from the spirit or the scope of the present invention.

Substantially parallel strings I4 are tensioned longitudinally on the table for auditory vibration and have opposite end portions over-laid by housing members [5. The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings employs eight strings. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific number of strings, but may accommodate as many as desired. The housing members are employed to conceal end portions of the strings and working elements of the invention. Said housing members are mounted on the console in any suitable manner, such as byslide receivers l6, shown in Fig. 3, mounted on the table l2 and detachably engaged to the housing members. There is no invention in the manner of attaching the housing members to the table and no further description thereof is provided.

. The strings I4 are secured to the table I2 near an end portion thereof by means of a securing plate I'l. Tuning posts iii, of convenient form, are provided in the opposite end portion of the table i2 and individually receive the strings l4. Manipulation of the tuning posts serves to tension the strings l4 in the conventional manner and the instrument is thereby provided with a basic tuning before it is played. A brid e I9 is mounted on the table in engagement with the strings and serves to maintain the strings in spaced relation to the table for auditory vibration. A pair of substantially parallel spaced bridges 20 and 2!, respectively, are mounted on the table near the tuning posts in engagement with the strings and similarly serve to space the strings from the table. An electricalpickup 22 is employed with a conventional amplifier (not shown) in the usual manner. A volume control 23 for the amplifier is conveniently positioned on the table. The pickup, amplifier, and volume control do not constitute essential elements of the present invention and thus are not described in detail merely being alluded to as useful adjuncts.

Substantially cylindrical plungers 24, as seen in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, are provided with apertures 25 adapted to receive the strings. The plungers are individually connected to the strings intermediate the spaced bridges by having their respective strings threaded through said apertures. Openings 26 are provided in the table below the strings and slideably receive the plungers for substantially vertical reciprocal movement.

It is apparent that the tension of the strings l4 may be increased by urging the plungers 2t downwardly thus to draw the strings between the spaced bridges 20 and 2|. To this end a frame '27 having side walls 28 secured to the table H, as by screws 29, and a bottom portion 30 interconnecting the walls in spaced relation to the table is positioned in bracketing relation to the downwardly extended ends of the plungers 2d. The arrangement is specifically demonstrated in Fig. 5. A pivot shaft 3i is mounted in interconnecting relation between the side walls 28 in a plane substantially parallel to the table and spaced downwardly therefrom as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. Lever arms 32, individual to the plungers 24, are journaled on the shaft for teetering movement thereon in planes of their respective plungers. To communicate with control solenoids, presently described, the lever arms are extended generally toward the adjacent end of the table but are offset downwardly as shown at 33 in Fig. i to accommodate for the solenoids. Also to accommodate for the solenoids, the lever arms are curved outwardly in fan arrangement as they are extended toward said adjacent end of the table, as shown in Fi 6. Opposite end portions of the lever arms are connected to the respective plungers of the lever arms by links 34. S0 connected, the pivoting or teetering of any lever arm to move its respective plunger downwardly serves to tighten the string to which the plunger is attached. To guide pivotal movement of the lever arms, angular uides 35 having portions 36 overlaying the bottom portion 30 of the frame and upwardly extended portions 31 are secured to the frame at opposite sides of the shaft 3| as by bolts 38. The upwardly extended portions are slotted, as at 39, to receive and guide the lever arms. To the end of providing adjustable stops for pivotal movement of the lever arms, the bottom 30 is provided with elongated openings 40 transversely disposed to the lever arms and in substantially parallel relation to the shaft 3! and on opposite sides thereof. Stop bolts 4| are extended upwardly through the openings; a pair thereof being arranged in the plane of movement of each of the lever arms at opposite sides of the pivotal mounting thereof. Jam nuts 42 are screw-threadedly engaged to the stop bolts above and below the bottom 38 of the frame and serve to secure the stop bolts in positions predetermining the permitted throws of the lever arms. Once adjusted, the stop bolts require only a minimum of subsequent adjustment, such as to compensate for Wear.

Solenoids 43, individual to the lever arms 32, are mounted in depending position on the table 12 adjacent the ends of their respective lever arms opposite the plungers 24. The solenoids have elecromagnetically motivated cores 44 connected to the adjacent end portions of the lever arms. The energizing of the solenoids draws the cores upwardly, raise the end portions of the lever arms to which they are attached, and through the links 32 and the plungers '24, draw down on the strings M.

In Fig. 1, pedals M, 45, and t6 having mid portions and forwardly and rearwardly extended end portions are shown mounted on the floor H. Three pedals have been found suflicient for all normal purposes, but any suitable number may be employed for specialized purposes. The mounting of the pedals is clearly illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. Angle brackets 38 are secured to the floor and are upwardly extended therefrom adjacent mid portions of the pedals. The pedals are tiltably ease-10a mountedonthe-hrackctsbv fulcrum mined-Geesetendedlthrough the mid portions of-thepedalssand:

pedals at opposite sides of the pivotal mounting; thereof and downwardly extended into slideable; engagement with the plates 50. So mounted; the,-

pedals may be tilted forwardly or rearwardlyby.

applying pressure to end portions thereofand upon the release of such pressure are returned.

to normal attitude by the springs.

Electrical switches 52 are mounted on opposite ends of the pedals so as to be controlled bytilting; Each of the switches preferably.-

of the pedals. closes in response to the tilting of its respective pedal in onedirection, and remains open when said, pedal is in normal attitude or. tilted in. the opposite direction. Various types of switches. or. switches and relays may. be employed. The.

switches, however, conveniently, take theform of,

mercury switches of well known type comprising a glass envelope 53 of insulating material,a quantityof .mercury. 54 containedin the envelope, and

a pair, of .,con'tacts .55 and, .55 .respectivelyextended into the envelope andinsulated from each other as .at,5.1. The mercury'switches close when held in an attitude causing the. mercuryto, establish an..electrica l path between the contacts and are open when held in positions causing the mercury to. run from the, contacts.v The mercury-switches are conveniently mounted below the pedals on opposite. endportions thereof, by spring clips 58.

The. switches. are preferably maintained by the clips in .attitudes relative to their respestive pedals in, which the mercury will establish electrical conducting,pathsbetweenthe contacts only when the ends ofthepedals on which the switches :are

mountedare depressed. As previously described, thepedals, are mounted totip forwardly and rearwardly. By providing; switches at: eachend of each. ofthe pedals, desired tuning control is achieved with a minimum of pedals. When; any pedal is tilted. forwardly, it.- closes one set-of switches; when tipped rearwardly, another set is closed: and; when= in-, horizontal or neutral position, all, on its switches are: open.

Eorpurposes of; convenience in describing the adjustingtand operation of the device of the present invention the stringsl 4 are individually identified as 60; BI, 62, 63 64, 65, and 6'! respectively. The solenoids- 42 individually tensioning the strings through their lever arms 32, links 33; andplungers 24; are individually identified as 10; H, 12, 13; 14; 15,,16and 11 respectively, string Sllbeing tightened'by energizing the solenoid 10 and so on.

As,schematicallydiagrammedin Fig. 9, a source of, direct current. l8, such as asbattery, rectifier energized from normally accessible alternating;

current, or: other suitable means is electrically, connected at one-side to each of the solenoids 42 by a cond uctor 19, The other; side-of the source of directcurrent isconnectedto one contact 55 of eachof the switches borne bythe. pedals 44, 45,- .and 4 6.- Asmany pathsfor completingclectrical i circuits. for each of the; solenoids through, the,switchesaadesired; are .providedby; conductinaw r ss flw ut rwnnecfl w h h c withe thecontacts'; 54 in predetermined; switches; Eon-convenience; the-forward s, ends of 1 the pedals 44, and 46 are designated at 44 45! andilfif' respectively and therearward ends of the pedals at 441', 451*, and? respectively. Although the present invention is not limited to any specific arrangement of switches, an arrangement admirably suited to the purpose is shown in Fig. 9.

A pair of switches are provided on the pedal end portion jandare connectedto the solenoids; 811G315. Thus, as pedal 44 is tipped forwardly, solenoids H and 15 are energized and their respective strings BI and tightened. Four switches are mounted on the pedal end portion 441- and areyconnected to solenoids 1|, 'I2, '|5and, 16' respectively.- Rearward tipping of the pedal- Operation The operation of thepresent invention is clearly apparent in the preceding description and. is briefly summarized at this point. In the preparation of the instrument for the playing, itis first tuned by varying the basic tuning of. the strings l4 through manipulation of the tuning posts IS in.

the conventional manner. Any, convenient basic tuning may be employed. A diminished 7th chord is admirably suitedto the purpose and selected as a basic tuning to demonstrate the operation of the device.

The stops 41 are elevationallyadjustedto limit the upward throw of the plungers 24 to positions wherein the apertures 25 are aligned with the upwardly disposed. edges of the spaced bridges." and 2| and'to limit the downward movementof the plungers 24 drawing their respective-stringsdownwardly between the spaced bridges a suflicient distance to increase the tension of said strings raising their pitch one-half tone.- Once. the stops- 4| are adjusted the jam nuts, 42. are tightened against the bottom 30 of the frame- 21 1 securing the stops in position. It istobe understood that further throws of the lever arms 32 may be permitted when it is desired to draw the plungers downwardly distance sufiicient to alter the :pitch of a given; string. afull tone; or. more.- Thuspro-conditioned for operation, the strings [4 are plucked or struck in the conventional manner and a steel (not shown) manipulated in the, manner well known in steel guitars. In addition, the'energizing of the solenoids eitherindividually; or in-selected multiples serves to alter the basic tuning of the instrument by'raising theimuslcal pitch of predetermined strings a half tone. It is obvious that substantially limitless possibilities exist in the chordal structures obtainableby the proper adjustment of the stops 4| and the cooperative manipulation of a playing steel.

The following chart illustrates the suggested basic tuning and the modified tunings achieved by the tilting ofthe pedals. It is to beunderstood that the exemplary modified chords are achieved with open strings without the use of a playing steeLthe utilization of such a steel in the conventionalmanner serving to add to, each of the modified,.,tunings.,as well as the basic tuning. the

total breadth of musical expression heretofore known in instruments possessing a static basic tuning.

vibration, a pair of spaced bridges borne by the mounting means in string engagement, electrically responsive means arranged individually to Strings Bed-cl Altitude 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 i 07 Musical Key Normal E Bl; G E C Bl: G Dilginished findepr'essed... E D B "G E D B G G Major 6th. 5'1 Minor 7th. iifdeprossedii. E D 13b G E l) -Bl G 09th ,1, u G Minor 6th.

I E Minor 7th.

i 5th lowered. 51 dcprgnscdn I D 13b G F D 7 Bi G Bb Major 6th. G Minor 7th. jdeprcssed... E D B Gfi E D B G: E 7th. 4dr dep ressed E Q; B Gig E 03 B G: 1* Major 6th.

' CfiMinor 7th. ififdepressedm E Cit P G E Ci; B 1 G Agth 1 I E Minor (5th, A

0% Minor 7th. 5th lmvei'(l t will be apparent to those skilled in the art that-any inconvenience in achieving a chord or chordal progression desired may be oviated by the proper modification of the basic tuning through the manipulation of the pedals 44, 45, and it individually or in groups. "The modifications of the basic tuning are accomplished substantially instantaneously upon the tilting of a pedal and result in precise re-tuning of the instrument. The

device of the present invention eifectively maintains modified tunings as long as the pedals retain their manually controlled attitudes. The number of pedals required to achieve desired breadth of musical expression is minimized. The device is simple in structure, accurate in operation and conducive to playing convenience.

The device of the present invention may be embodied in an instrument when constructed or provided as an attachment -for conventional instruments as convenience requires.

' 'Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not'to be limited to the details disclosed herein,- but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and systems.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a musical instrument having a plurality of 'tensioned strings disposed for audible vibration, means for progressively varying the tension of the strings comprising a pair of fixedly posi tioned members in spaced engagement with the strings, solenoids individually connected to the strings intermediate said members and arranged to draw their respective strings between the members when activated, and manually controlled electric means for selectively activating the solenoids.

2. A'musical instrument comprising a plurality of strings, means for mounting the strings under predetermined tensions, electrical solenoids arranged to vary the tensions of the individualv strings, electrical circuits individual to the solenoids containing a source of activating electrical energy, and manually manipulable switches in the electrical circuits whereby the tensions of the strings are varied in responsev to switch manipulation.

3. A musical instrument comprising a string mounting means, a plurality of strings tensioned on the mounting means and disposed for audible draw the'strings between the bridges and thus to vary the'individual tension of the strings, circuits containing a sourceof electrical energy in individual activating relation to the electrically re sponsive means, switches interposed in the circ'uits," and manually operated means controlling the switches.

4. In 'an'musical instrument, the combination of a'support, a plurality of strings having opposite end portions adjustably tensioned on the support, a pair of spaced bridges borne by the support in'string engagement near an end portion of the strings, abridge borne by the support in' string engagement near the opposite end portion of the strings, plungers connected to the strings intermediate the spaced bridges, lever means pivotally mounted on the support and connected to the plungers for reciprocally positioning the same and for varying the tension of thestringsto which they are attached by drawing said strings between the bridges, solenoids individual to the lever means, circuits energized from a source of electrical energy in individual activating'relation to the solenoids, switches in the electrical circuits, and pedal means operating the switches in predetermined multiples.

' 5. A musical instrument comprising a table member, a pair of spaced bridges supported by the table. member, .a plurality of strings tensioned on the table member across the bridges,

plungers individually connected to the strings between the bridges and extended through the bridges borne by the table member in engagement with the strings, plungers individually connected to the strings intermediate the spaced bridges, lever arms pivotally mounted on the table member and individually connected to the plungers, stops adjustably limiting the pivotal movement of the lever arms, solenoids individcircuits energizing the solenoids from a source of electrical energy, switches interposed in the electrical circuits, pedals in controlling relation to predetermined multiples of the switches.

7. A console musical instrument comprising a base, a table supported above the base by said base, a plurality of parallel strings each secured at one end to the table, tuning posts mounted on the table and individually connected to the strings for adjustably tuning the same, a bridge mounted on the table in engagement with the strings near the ends thereof secured to the table and spacing the strings from the table for auditory vibration, a pair of spaced, substantially parallel bridges mounted on the table in string engagement interposed said strings and the table adjacent the tuning posts, apertured plungers individually connected to the strings intermediate the spaced bridges by having their respective strings threaded through the apertures in the plungers, lever arms pivotally mounted on the table and individually connected to the plungers, guide members constraining pivotal movement of the lever arms and resultant movement of the plungers to which they are connected to planes of movement substantially in right angular relation to the spaced bridges, adjustable stops borne by the table and positioned adjustably to limit pivotal movement of the lever arms, a plurality of solenoids mounted on the table and having electromagnetically positioned cores connected to the lever arms, circuits having a source of electrical energy electrically connected to the solenoids, mercury switches interposed in the electrical circuits, pedals tiltably mounted on the base, and spring means urging the pedals into predetermined neutral positions, the mercury switches being mounted on opposite ends of the pedals and each arranged to close its respective circuit when its mounting pedal is tilted in one direction from neutral position and to open said circuit when its pedal is in neutral position or tilted in the opposite direction.

NEWTON J. ADAIR.

No references cited. 

